Adventures in Southern Seas eBook

When the man-o’-war’s men boarded us,
I ran down the companion stairs in search of the captain,
whom I found lying senseless at the foot of the ladder.
Fortunately for him, and for all of us, he had been
stunned by a blow from one of the pirates as he descended,
and was thus prevented from carrying out his desperate
resolve to fire the magazine.

This was my last adventure upon the voyage, and some
weeks later, without further mishap, we sighted a
Dutch vessel bound for Amsterdam, to which, at my
request, I was transferred.

CHAPTER XXV

I ARRIVE AT AMSTERDAM

My first care after arriving at Amsterdam was to interview
the goldsmiths with a view to disposing of the jewels
I had brought from the Island of Gems, which proved
to be of such value that I realized a considerable
sum by the sale of a small portion, for I wished to
keep some of the best as a wedding present for Anna.

I lost no time in sending my compliments to the Count
of Holstein, with a request that I might be allowed
to call upon him. He consented to receive me,
and I hastened to the Count’s palace, where I
found the old nobleman prostrated with grief at the
continued and unexplained illness of his only child;
but when Anna had seen me, and satisfied herself of
my return, she recovered so rapidly that her father,
on hearing from me my improved condition, and the
sentiments which I entertained for his daughter, gladly
gave his consent to our union.

From Anna I learnt of the persecution to which she
had been subject from Count Hendrick Luitken, which
had mainly been the cause of her illness. Convinced
that she would never accept him willingly, Count Hendrick,
unknown to her father, had attempted to abduct her
to his country estate. With the aid of one of
her attendants Anna had made her escape, and believing
me dead, while fearing further persecution, she had
determined, should she be restored to health, to seek
the cloister as her only safe refuge. As her
tale proceeded I found it hard to restrain myself
from starting off at once in pursuit of the villain
who had treated my loved one so shamefully, and I
promised myself to bring him to account when the opportunity
should arise.

I next sought Hartog at the tavern which I knew he
frequented. When he saw me he cried out, “Is
it you or your ghost, Peter? I had never looked
to see thee again, lad. I’d sooner have
thee back than salvage all the gold in the Orient.”

I thanked him for his welcome, which I knew to be
genuine, and taking a seat at his right hand, I began
to tell him of my adventures since we last met.
When he heard it was owing to the treachery of Van
Luck I had been cast into the sea to be washed ashore
on the Island of Gems, and of the subsequent fate
of the island and of Van Luck, he became so interested
that he promised to meet me later, when I could give
him a more detailed account of all that had befallen
me. I offered to share with him my jewels, but
to this he would not consent.